Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
Senator Dick Durbin has issued a press release announcing that he and Senator Diane Feinstein have introduced a bill (S. 887) to transfer responsibility for conducting agricultural inspections at all points of entry in the U.S. from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) back to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). (Press release, dated 03/14/07, available at http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=270685.)
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1. Two Senators Introduce Bill to Transfer Ag Inspections Back to APHIS
2. U.S. and Canada Sign Open Skies Aviation Agreement
The State Department has issued a press release announcing that the U.S. and Canada have signed an Open Skies air transport agreement to expand and liberalize their bilateral civil aviation relations. The agreement significantly modernizes U.S.-Canadian aviation relations by allowing airlines to make commercial decisions with minimal government intervention and also includes all-cargo seventh freedom rights, allowing airlines to perform international cargo operations with no connection to their homeland. (Press release 2007/182, released 03/12/07, available at www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/mar/81645.htm.)
3. "Carbon Neutral" Airline Silverjet Offers Cargo Services on its Daily U.K.-NY Flight
Shippers' NewsWire reports that British business class and "carbon neutral" airline Silverjet now offers cargo services on its daily flight between London and New York. Silverjet's fares include a mandatory carbon offset contribution, which will be recalculated with the extra fuel burn required to transport the cargo. (SNW, dated 03/01/07, www.americanshipper.com)
4. FDA Proposes to Amend Regs for Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule to amend its regulations for thermally processed low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers to allow for use of other temperature-indicating devices, in addition to mercury-in-glass thermometers, during processing. FDA also is proposing to establish recordkeeping requirements relating to temperature-indicating devices and to clarify other aspects of low-acid canned food processing such as FDA's interpretation of some requirements of the current regulations that will, in part, allow the use of advanced technology for measuring and recording temperatures during processing. (FDA proposed rule, D/N 2007N-0026, FR Pub 03/14/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-1172.pdf.)
5. CBP Corrects CFR Reference in Final Rule on Mexican Cement
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a correction to its final rule published in the March 6, 2007 Federal Register, which set forth special requirements for the entry of certain cement products from Mexico. CBP is correcting a reference in its final rule to 19 CFR 12.155(b) from "361.205" to "361.105." (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/13/07 news, 07031307, for BP summary of the final rule.) (CBP correction, CBP Dec. 07-05 and USCBP-2006-0020, FR Pub 03/14/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/C7-997.pdf)
6. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges for Activities Involving Export Without Authorization/License
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for a period of seven years from the date of her conviction to Erika P. Jardine aka Eriklynn Pattie Jardine, aka Erika Pattie Jardine, for activities related to the export of certain defense articles from the U.S. to European countries without having first obtained from a license or written authorization for such export the State Department. The Order will remain in effect until February 22, 2013. (FR Pub 02/26/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-842.pdf)
7. BIS Denies Certain Export Privileges, Imposes Civil Penalty for Activities Involving Export Without License
BIS has issued an Order denying certain export privileges for a period of five years from February 22, 2007, and imposing a civil penalty of $66,000 against William Kovacs for activities related to the illegal export of an industrial furnace to the Beijing Research Institute of Materials and Technology in China without obtaining a license. (D/N 05-BIS-10, FR Pub 02/28/07, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-905.pdf)